JACKSON, Tenn. — April 18, 2012 — 51社区 sophomore Abby Williams won the International Public Debate Association national championship in the 鈥渧arsity debate鈥� category at the IPDA national tournament April 12-15 at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas.
In the final round, Williams defeated Nathan Johnston from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. The two debated the resolution, 鈥淗ydraulic fracturing is worth the risk,鈥� with Williams debating the negative side.
鈥淲e鈥檝e won the tournament as a team before, but Abby is our first individual championship tournament winner,鈥� said Web Drake, coach of Union鈥檚 debate team. 鈥淪he got a lot of help from her teammates in preparing her cases, so this is a team win in a lot of ways. Still, what she was able to pull off in-round is a complete tribute to her abilities, drive and hard work.鈥�
The IPDA national tournament included more than 200 competitors in three divisions (77 in varsity). Students came from 24 schools in eight states.
Williams, from Springdale, Ark., is a double major in music and English.
Union鈥檚 team finished second in the sweepstakes competition. A full listing of how Union team members fared is posted at .